Sex Tape 1.0 stars

A couple celebrating her promotion (Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel) decide to spice up their sex life and find themselves on a scavenger hunt to prevent a homemade porno from going viral. A foolproof premise for a modern day screwball comedy done in by foolhardy execution. Casting Rob Lowe — the architect of sex tapes — as Diaz’s potential boss was a stroke of genius. Alas, all he’s required to do is make the predictable leap from upstanding publisher, who by day discourages sex talk from his bloggers, to a coke-sniffing hedonist upon clocking out. Diaz’s performance is a feat of daring display while Segel acts (and appears) slightly run-down. You’ll be lucky to find a chuckle or two sprinkled throughout. Even the customarily reliable Rob Corddry fails to trigger much more than an initial smile of recognition. Surprisingly, an uncredited cameo by Jack Black as a pornographer affords the film a rare shred of decency. Jake Kasdan directs. 2014.